Senator: Gun Bill Would Punish Young Va. Hunters

February 25, 1999|By PATRICK LEE PLAISANCE Daily Press

RICHMOND — A measure that Republican Del. Phillip Hamilton of Newport News says would give local school officials more flexibility to discipline students with guns found in their cars was attacked Wednesday by a Republican state senator who argued that it would unfairly punish young hunters in Southwest Virginia.

Hamilton's measure, which was overwhelmingly approved by the House two weeks ago, would allow local school boards to decide how to discipline students who are caught bringing an unloaded gun onto school property. Under current state law, all students caught with a gun at school face expulsion - except those who bring an unloaded firearm in a closed container or one kept in a vehicle driven to school.

The exception is meant to protect students and their parents who come to school prepared to go hunting later.

Hamilton said his measure was needed to close a possible loophole.

"Without this legislation, school boards are unable to address unloaded firearms on school property with disciplinary action," he said.

But it hit a snag in the Senate Wednesday, when Republican state Sen. Malfourd W. Trumbo of Botetourt County complained that the measure could expose students in rural areas to unnecessary discipline for having a hunting rifle in a car.

"I've got national forests, where people hunt, next to school property," Trumbo said. "If somebody goes to a football game, and has a gun to go hunting later, they could be suspended or expelled."

Trumbo rewrote Hamilton's bill to exempt students with guns - unloaded and locked in a container or a car - from any disciplinary action during hunting season. Trumbo's version was approved with only three Northern Virginia senators opposing it.

The measure now goes back to the House, where Hamilton has vowed to change it back.

"If folks think that having unloaded firearms on school grounds is good for school safety, then they'll vote against my bill," Hamilton said.

"His amendment has the potential to make a bigger loophole than we already have. It could encourage kids to become licensed hunters. Encouraging access to firearms on school property, even during hunting season, is bad policy."

Patrick Lee Plaisance can be reached at (804) 648-5334 or by e-mail at richmonddp@aol.com